Back pain, weight loss? Be warned, it could be TB

Acute back pain, unexplained weight loss, fever and night sweats: If they persist beyond a week, there is cause to worry, health experts caution. Such symptoms are synonymous with spinal tuberculosis, which accounts almost 50 percent of musculo-skeletal TB in developing countries, the experts say. "Spinal tuberculosis, also known as Pott spine, is one of the most common spinal diseases in India. It represents almost 50 percent of the musculo-skeletal tuberculosis in the developing countries," Shashi Baliyan, managing director, of Clearmedi Healthcare Private Limited, a multidimensional service provider, told IANS. TB in humans is caused by the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis bacteria.